Washington Huskies: Rising From The Ashes?

(Photo by: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

In adjusting to the new coach, both sides of the ball have to learn the new terminology, schemes, and audibles, the quarterback Locker, and defensive captain—perhaps a Tuiasosopo or Savannah—have the biggest book to memorize.  The adjustment to a new playbook in the NFL can take a couple of years, let alone a pro-style playbook for a group of 19 and 20 year olds.  So that challenge will affect the Dawgs in 2009.

One item that tempers expectations—across the board—the Huskies are young.  Out of their 98 current players, only 35 are Juniors or Seniors.  The other 63 guys are either redshirt freshman or sophomores.  This youth has a yin and yang for Sark and friends – the yin is that they are inexperienced, and don’t have a lot of quality college football experience to draw from.  The yang is that they are effectively blank clay that Sark can sculpt into whatever he wants them to be.

Sark will put his best eleven on the field, and will watch their every play.  Failure is not acceptable.  Every player on the roster will need to be ready to fill in for someone who forgets an assignment or misses a play.  The entire roster will have to adjust to the new scrutiny.  Over the coming year's, Sark will change the Husky culture and gradually build a team of "his guys." 

Husky Expectations 2009 –

For 2009, the Huskies cannot get any worse than they were last year.  However, in Seattle, the standard for Husky performance is pretty high.  Husky fans (and the Tyee club of boosters) expect bowl games and Pac-10 titles.  Steve Sarkisian played vs the Huskies (and lost) and felt the impact of Husky fans first hand.

Based on the intensity of the spring practices, Coach Sarkisian and his staff focus on two core items—the fundamentals of the game and raising the players' intensity.  For the players, repetition at a higher intensity level took an adjustment in the first few practices, and one can hope this translates to better on the field execution. 

In 2009, the Huskies should climb out of the cellar and be one of the middle of the Pac teams.  They may surprise some of their Pac 10 foes.  However, a non-conference list that includes an opener vs LSU and Notre Dame may temper that enthusiasm.  One thing is clear—2009 will begin the return of the Dawgs to their rightful place at the top of the conference. 

Bottom line, the 2009 expectations are for a long overdue improvement and an Apple Cup win!! In 2010 and beyond the Dawgs will be ready to challenge the top teams in the Pac-10. 

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